Thornaby Indoor Bowls Club turned in a good all round team performance across four rinks to beat Darlington in the All England Egham Trophy inter-club mixed fours championship this week.

Tracey Fairless, Dorothy Donald, Eric Ramsdale and skip Ken Lamb got off to a slow start over the first five ends going narrowly adrift by 6-2.

The Quakers' four fought back scoring seven shots over the next four ends without reply. With the score at nine shot to seven Darlington picked up a well earned four and two singles to lead 15-8 at the 15th end.

For Thornaby M Perry, B Nicholson, W Peirson and skip Richard Hudson fought back well picking up a valuable three and a two, but found Darlington's Ken Lamb and his team too good. The Quakers won impressively 19-14 on rink four at the Morrison Centre.

On the other home rink Ann Anderson, Maureen Whitton, Barry Hodgson and skip Allen Moore raced to an early 5-2 lead after securing an important three at the first end.

Thornaby fielded a very experienced rink including international Mel O'Riordon, Fred Gill, all England player Beryl Alderson and North of England champion skip Alan Jones.

The quality of both sides over the 21 ends was evident throughout this low scoring game with 13 singles recorded.

Thornaby broke the pattern and built a good head to pick up five shots at the 16th with the score even on 10-10. When it mattered most the Quaker men and lady bowlers picked up a stylish two then a five to regain the initiative. A good single at the 21st end gave the Darlington four a precious hard-earned 18-17 victory against a very determined and experienced Thornaby rink. Very well done Darlington for some outstanding bowling which was fully appreciated and generously applauded.

The news for Darlington from the away rink at Thornaby was hardly ever really good. Sadie Lynch, Dulcie Harbin, Colin Young and skip John Lynch were poised to forge ahead early on. With a narrow lead of 4-3 after five ends they widened the gap while picking up a good single and a valuable two to lead by 7-3.

The game turned around when B Smith, M Millward, J Frosdick and skip Vin O'Neill for Thornaby scored six shots at the eighth end to go in front by 11-7.

Darlington scored five more shots up to the finish even collecting a single at the 21st end. Thornaby were contained to eight singles and won by 18-12 in a low scoring and very competitive encounter.

At Thornaby, Darlington were represented by a newly formed rink with plenty of experience in various competitions. Darlington included Olive Harris at lead, Joyce Stephenson at second wood, Alan Stephenson at number three and skipped by Mark Jones.

Thornaby included K Fairbairn, N Stephenson, P Mosley and G Skipp who started with a three-one-four to lead by 8-2 after five ends.

The Teessiders picked up another four at the tenth to lead by 14-8 and piled on the pressure. The Quakers' rink lost three consecutive fours going into the last end. Thornaby won convincingly by 30-14 to send their team through to the next round of this very prestigious national team championship.

In the men's national inter-club Denny Cup championship Cumbria had 30 shots to spare when beating the Parks of North Shields on all four rinks. York were equally impressive with 72 shot to spare against Ryedale of Malton.

Sunderland turned in a great result when beating Copeland with 40 shots to spare on the home and away rinks. Selby lost by 63-96 to Newton Hall (Lancs).